Mark Williams backs AFL’s stance on Indigenous voice after Australian Football Hall of Fame induction
Port Adelaide’s only AFL premiership coach Mark Williams has used his Hall of Fame induction to advocate for Indigenous footballers and a yes vote in the voice referendum.
In a passionate and wide-ranging speech at Melbourne’s Crown Casino, the life-long football champion ended the function in stirring style.
Joking he was given the hard task of following iconic broadcaster Bruce McAvaney, Williams need not have worried as he delivered a memorable acceptance speech.
The 64-year-old said he remained in football, currently at Melbourne, due to his love of working with people from all backgrounds.
“The Aboriginal people, I absolutely love. I really admire the AFL for talking and standing up for the ‘Yes’ vote for the voice,” Williams said. “I am saying we have to do the right thing and understand how bloody hard it is for the Aboriginal players to make their way in the AFL.
“We need to support them and understand them. When we get them there, make sure we give them opportunity and then absolutely demand the best from them and expect the best.”
Williams used the 2004 grand final when he coached Port to their sole premiership as an example of First Nations players starring on the biggest stage.
Byron Pickett won the Norm Smith medal, while fellow Indigenous Power teammates Gavin Wanganeen, Peter Burgoyne and Shaun Burgoyne also played key roles in Port’s 40-point victory over the all-conquering Brisbane Lions.
“I want them to be best on ground, not just making up the numbers,” Williams
said. “On grand final day, that’s what we saw when Port Adelaide won.”
Three-time Geelong premiership heroes Jimmy Bartel and Corey Enright became the latest Cats legends to be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Five years after their former teammate and star defender Matthew Scarlett joined the illustrious group, Bartel and Enright were added in. The pair both ended their playing careers at the end of the 2016 season following Geelong’s preliminary-final loss to the Sydney Swans.
Despite ending their time with the Cats on a low, Bartel and Enright played a central role in an extraordinary period of success for the Victorian club. The dynamic duo starred in Geelong’s 2007 premiership, the club’s first in 44 years, before being part of further grand-final success in 2009 and 2011.
A courageous midfielder, Bartel was awarded the 2007 Brownlow medal and took out the Norm Smith Medal for his best-on-ground performance in the 2011 grand-final win over Collingwood.
Now a respected media analyst and a GWS board member, Bartel finished his career with 305 games and 202 goals.
“You go to the Geelong football club, I know Matt Scarlett’s already in the Hall of Fame, but I can’t wait to see all my teammates [be inducted] over the years,” Bartel said during his acceptance speech.
“Gary [Ablett] of course, who made me a bit emotional when Jnr spoke about me in that way [before being inducted].”
Enright remains one of the greatest defenders in modern AFL history, named All-Australian six times, including in his final season.
Geelong should continue to dominate the Hall of Fame intake in coming years with fellow premiership greats such as Gary Ablett Jnr, Steve Johnson, Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins almost certain to be included when they become eligible.
One of Bartel and Enright’s former adversaries, Sam Mitchell, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame after a stellar four-premiership career for Hawthorn, followed by a one-season stint at West Coast.
Mitchell skippered the Hawks’ 2008 grand-final victory over Geelong, before handing the captaincy reins over to Luke Hodge ahead of the 2011 season. Hawthorn added to their premiership cabinet with a 2013-15 flag three-peat.
Mitchell was retrospectively crowned a joint winner of the 2012 Brownlow medal after Essendon’s Jobe Watson gave up his award following the Bombers’ supplements saga.
Now coaching Hawthorn after taking over from his long-time mentor
Alastair Clarkson at the end of 2021, Mitchell finished with 329 games and is a five-time Hawks best-and-fairest winner.
AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder confirmed St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt had accepted an invitation into the Hall of Fame. However, the former Saints captain is living in the United States with his family this year and will be officially inducted when he returns to Australia.
The full list of 2023 hall of fame inductees: Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn, West Coast), Jimmy Bartel (Geelong), Corey Enright (Geelong), Michael Aish (Norwood, SANFL), Tom Leahy (West Adelaide, North Adelaide SANFL), Bruce McAvaney (broadcaster), Mark Williams (Port Adelaide as player and coach, Collingwood, Brisbane)